FRAXresources

General Information about FRAX®

FRAX is a scientifically validated risk assessment tool which has now been integrated into an increasing number of national osteoporosis guidelines around the world. It is a major milestone in helping health professionals to improve identification of patients at high risk of fracture. The web-based FRAX calculator assesses the ten-year risk of osteoporosis fracture based on individual risk factors, with or without BMD values. IOF supports the maintenance and development of the tool and promotes its worldwide use.

BackgroundThe FRAX tool is designed to assist clinicians in predicting the ten-year probability of fracture with or without the addition of femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD). It is freely available and is used for around 6 million fracture calculations per year. The tool has been independently evaluated to be effective and robust, and has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK and the Food and Drug Administration in the USA.

The University of Sheffield launched the FRAX tool in 2008. At that time the University hosted the The World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases (1991-2010), and the FRAX tool is based on data generated from that centre. However, FRAX was neither developed or endorsed by WHO.

FRAX® Mobile Application

The tool is also accessible on iOS in the Apple Store and on Android in the Google Play store.

iPhone or iPadDownload the new and updated FRAX App for iOS – launched on April 2, 2014Notice FRAX App version 1.x through 3.x is no longer up-to-date and we kindly ask you to download the new App to ensure that you have the most current version (see side box for more information).

Individual EntryThis individual entry system mimics the front end of the current web version of FRAX. It can be used to assess an unlimited number of individual patients in any healthcare setting. The license can run for six or twelve months (download will expire after the subscription period). Each time the license is renewed, the subscriber receives the updated version of FRAX.

License fees* are CHF 25 for 6 months / CHF 45 for 12 months.

Multi-Patient EntryThis version of FRAX is designed for researchers and handles multi-patient entries (analyses of large cohorts) in a single operation. The license is for a period of one month.

*License fees have been applied in order to cover the maintenance costs of the websites and the development of future versions of FRAX. Use of the online FRAX tool remains free of charge.

FRAX® Pad

This one-page (two-sided) questionnaire in easy tear-sheet form is a time saving tool. The questionnaire can be completed by a patient waiting in a doctor’s office, by a practice nurse or by the physician themselves. Order bulk quantities using the orders and permissions form (PDF, 109.4 KB). The questionnaire is currently available in English, Chinese, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and Swedish languages. Please contact IOF if you would like copies.

FRAX® Calculator Wheel

Companies may request the FRAX® Calculator Wheel to be produced for a specific country with their logo, in addition to IOF, FRAX®, and the University of Sheffield logos. IOF will supply a PDF file with the artwork, including the paper specifications and the FRAX® algorithm for the specific country. The company prints one sample and sends it to IOF for approval. If applicable, the company is responsible for the translation and will have to send it to IOF together with a validation by an official translation bureau stating that the translation is accurate. The calculator wheel will be produced under a one-year license agreement for unlimited printing.